Registration is under way for the first Citizens Government Academy, an Athens-Clarke County government initiative to introduce citizens to their local government’s structure, operations and services, and to provide information on becoming more engaged and involved with the county government.

The 10-week program begins March 15, and will meet weekly on Wednesdays from 5:30-8 p.m. The program is limited to 25 participants, who must be Athens-Clarke residents at least 18 years of age. The deadline to apply is March 1, and the required application is available online at http://bit.ly/2kDaYdb.

The program is coordinated by Athens-Clarke County Assistant Manager Jestin Johnson and the county manager’s office. Sessions will take place at a number of Unified Government facilities. The program will include a historical and organizational overview of the county government, tours of several local facilities, topical presentations by county government department directors and department representatives, and a number of interactive learning experiences.

“Our hope is that a diverse group of participants will take part in a truly unique opportunity to become more familiar with the unified government’s structure, operations, and services while learning how to become more engaged and involved citizens,” Johnson said in a news release.

There are a number of goals for the program, including giving residents an opportunity to learn how to access their government, providing an understanding of how to become involved in local government, and enhancing citizens’ ability to communicate effectively with local officials.

On a more technical level, the Citizens Government Academy will explain the relationships between residents, the mayor and commission and government departments; the process for deciding why and how government projects are implemented and services are provided, and the budgeting process.

The program ends May 17, and residents who complete the academy will be recognized at the mayor and commission’s June 6 meeting.